Melbourne couple charged with holding woman as slave
A man accused of keeping a slave in servitude will face a Victorian County Court trial after he pleaded not guilty to three commonwealth offences. Photo: AAP
A Melbourne couple have been charged with keeping a woman as a slave in their home for nearly a year.
The man, 44, and woman, 29, are accused of holding the woman at their Point Cook home between January 2022 and October.
The Australian Federal Police started investigating in October after a healthcare worker alerted them about a woman exhibiting indicators of human trafficking.
Police allege the couple exercised coercive control over the woman, subjecting her to physical assaults and controlling her movements.
The man was charged in November with possessing a slave and using coercion and threats to cause another person to remain in servitude.
He was further charged in April with exercising control over a slave.
The 29-year-old woman was charged by summons in April with the same three offences.
The couple are due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates Court at a later date.
– AAP
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